Madison - The state Assembly plans to take up Republicans' contentious mining bill on March 7th.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told reporters Thursday republican leaders expect to begin debate that morning.Debate may last all day.Republicans control the chamber, making passage all but certain.
Approval would send the bill on to Governor Scott Walker for his signature. The Senate narrowly passed the bill after a nearly nine-hour debate Wednesday evening. The bill is designed to clear the regulatory path for a huge open-pit iron mine in Ashland and Iron counties. Republicans say the mine would create hundreds of jobs for the economically depressed region. Democrats and conservationists maintain the bill will relax environmental protections and could lead to devastating pollution. (Copyright 2013 Associated Press - All Rights Reserved)